A thrilling and fervent concert was put on by the Celtic All-Stars at the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Connecticut on Friday, March 6.
The concert showcased Celtic culture, featuring artists from all over the world, including Scotland, Ireland and Canada. Natalie MacArthur and Donnell Leahy, Canadian musicians who have been married since 2000, performed. Two of their children, Mary Frances Leahy and Michael Leahy, performed at the concert as well.
Other notable artists featured in the concert were Karen Matheson from Scotland, Enda Scahill from Ireland, Ross Ainslie from Scotland and Elmer Ferrer from Cuba.
Joshua Gallant, an eighth-semester student majoring in computer science, said the concert was the very first Celtic concert that he had attended.
“I’ve never seen a show like this,” Gallant said. “It was interesting to see it for the first time, and the tap dancing was impressive.”
Over two dozen Celtic tunes were played at the concert. Some were performed in solos, duets or trios. Others were collaborations between all the artists. An array of instruments were used by the artists. MacArthur and Donnell played the violin, Matheson was on vocals, Ainslie played the pipes, Mary Frances Leahy, played the piano, Michael Leahy, played the guitar with Elmer and Scahill played the banjo.
The first song of the concert began with a slow tempo consisting of guitar and piano solos, which composed unique melodies that made the tone mysterious. About twenty seconds in, whistles joined the piano and guitar solos. The whistles produced flute-like sounds that took the mysteriousness of the song to a higher level. Eventually, vocals were added, shifting the mood of the song to enchanting. In the middle of the song, the tempo accelerated, becominggroovy. The song’s immense vigor attracted the audience, which clapped along as the spirit filled the auditorium with enthusiasm.
At the conclusion of the first tune, the musicians immediately jumped into the next, which sounded similar to the end of its predecessor. Swift tempos and energy remained prevalent throughout the song, which was performed byeveryone on stage, featuring tap dancing from two of the musicians. Each dancer was flawless and full of spry.
Most of the songs performed were nearly identical to the second tune. They all featured every musician, and they consisted of rapid tempos and bold melodies that produced fierce energy that kept the audience riveted.
While most of the songs were vigorous, there were a few notable tunes that were distinct from the others. The third piece fell under this distinction, which was a lovely mother-daughter duet between MacArthur and Leahy. The song was emotional yet uplifting. The heart-tugging emotions of the song were composed by Leahy’s elegant piano harmonies, which blended gracefully with MacArthur’s stunning violin melodies.
Another notable song that was performed later was just as riveting as the others. However, the tune was unique in the way that it alternated between solos, duets and a full collaboration between all artists on the stage. The song featured a special guest named Maria, a seven-year-old girl who performed an astonishing tap dance solo at the end of the song.
The third distinct song was the 17th, which was about the demise of industry. The performance featured a piano solo along with violin and vocals. The piano solo was remarkably beautiful, with notes that created an emotional atmosphere. The violin and vocal solos were exceptionally beautiful as well. They added to the sad yet astounding mood of the song, enhancing the beauty of it.
The last tune that was notably distinct was the final song of the concert. In the song, all the artists on stage crafted a hopeful, uplifting atmosphere that symbolized their futures. As the song was performed, a few dancers, including Maria, tapped along. Audience members clapped and sang along with the tap dancers and musicians.
The concert was an exceptional jewel. Not only was it very lively and animated, but it was an amazing way to bring Celtic culture to the United States. At the end of the concert, MacArthur expressed her joy at being part of the Celtic All-Stars and making the concert remarkable for the audience.
“It’s so awesome being a part of something that transcends language and everything,” MacArthur said. “We’re so happy to be joining this sort of thing. I always say, ‘I get paid to travel, and I play for free.’”
Effie Petropoulos, a master’s student in communications, said the concert was an enjoyable experience.
“It was very fun,” Petropoulos said. “I was really impressed by the performances. I didn’t really know what to expect, but it was really good.”